Dead of Winter

Chapter 62

Robbo had the details of Alex and Shannon’s hospital visits in front of him. He called Ebony in to see him as she left Davidson’s office.

‘Staff lists for the two hospitals show a cross-over of some agency staff. Three nurses have worked in both hospitals around the time when Shannon and Alex were in having treatment. I suggest you head over to the King’s College Hospital where Shannon was treated. The sister there on the ward remembers her and could be helpful.’

Ebony took the stairs up to Alice ward on the second floor in King’s College Hospital. She showed her warrant card at the door and again at the desk. ‘Sister Phillips?’ Ebony read the name on her badge.

‘Ah yes. . Detective Willis. I have been looking out the information you wanted. Please come into my office. Please. . sit yourself down now while I make sure I have what you need.’ Ebony followed the sister behind the desk and into her office. ‘The nurses who were working at the time Shannon Mannings came in to have her arm operation? November eighth 2009?’

‘Yes. That’s right.’

Sister Phillips handed Ebony the staff register open at that week.

Ebony studied the page then turned to see the rest of the staff rota for the preceding and following month. ‘And. . apart from the core staff there are an extra three staff who appear sometimes on this register? I’d like to ask you about: Josie Quirino, Mandy Spray and Linda Peters.’

‘They’ll be the agency staff.’

‘Do you know these women personally?

‘I have worked with all of them. There are some we will always choose to use if we can. Josie is a Filipina working here; she’s married to one of the ambulance men. Mandy is an old friend who I have known all my working career and Staff Nurse Linda Peters is a very welcome new addition to the great agency staff we can call on. Now she is someone I would love to have working here full-time. She’s very popular, and highly qualified. She loves the kids. She has a great rapport with the parents.’

Ebony took out the clearest of the photos taken of Alex with the woman as they prepared to get into the van.

‘Do you recognise this woman?’

Nurse Phillips took it from Ebony and looked closely.

‘It looks like Nurse Peters, Linda. But Linda’s hair is blonde not dark.’

‘Here Ebony showed her another photo of the woman’s back view.’

‘Yes. It could be her. It’s definitely none of the other two.’

‘Do you keep in touch with her? Have you got her home phone number? Address perhaps?’ Sister Phillips shook her head. ‘Not even from the checks that were run on her when she started working here?’ asked Ebony.

‘No sorry. . I just ring the agency when we need someone. If she’s free she comes.’

‘How long have you had Nurse Peters work here?’

‘I would say. . about a year. . on and off.’

‘Which agency does she come from?’

‘Here. .’ She pulled out a list from the front of the staff file. ‘Top one. . here’s where I look when I need staff to cover. You can take that list; I have a spare one. I always start at the top.’

She handed it to Ebony.

‘Do you have a better photo of her?’

‘I’ll ask the nurses that have worked with her. They may have one of her on their phone.’

‘Thank you I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone what my visit was about. We are in the middle of a murder investigation. If any of the agency staff who were working that week contact you again, would you please ring me straight away?’

‘Absolutely.’